Wayne Leonard Jerram was born on April 17, 1963 at the Ararat and District Hospital. He attended St Mary's Primary School and Marian College during his primary and secondary schooling, and actively participated in many community organisations whilst an Ararat resident, until the time of his passing on November 6, 2020, at the age of 57 years.
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Wayne was the second eldest of six children to his parents Margaret Jerram (nee Bushick) and Ronald Jerram. His siblings being Darren, Rodney, Andrew, Craig and Joanne.
Wayne married his wife Heidi at St Mary's Catholic Church, in Ararat in 1992, and they became a family of five with the birth of their daughters Amy in 2000, Daina in 2002, and a son Marcus in 2005.
His jovial and optimistic manner ensured that he was dearly loved and deeply admired by his close family and friends.
His paternal grandmother Valda Jerram (nee Powell) was from a large local family, ensuring that collectively, Wayne had many cousins and family connections within the Ararat and Stawell communities. Well known Melbourne Football Club player and WWII ace fighter pilot Keith 'Bluey' Truscott was also one of his grandmother Valda's cousins.
After finishing his studies at Marian College, Wayne began his first position as a junior clerk at the Ararat Station for Victorian Railways.
Later he became a proud local business owner, establishing Jerrams Auto Parts and Electronic Centre in 1985 with his elder brother Darren, and later running the business with their wives Dot and Heidi.
Initially, the business was located at 188 Barkly St, with business growth requiring two further relocations down the block to 206-208 Barkly St, and later 216-218, before permanently locating the business within the original Telecom building at 226-230 Barkly Street, in 2007.
During their 35 years of running Jerrams Auto Parts and Electronics Centre together, Darren and Wayne received numerous sales and business awards, including Dick Smith Electronics, 'Regional Sales Achievement Award - Victoria' in 1999 and 2001, 'Auto Pro Store of the Year, Vic 2010', and 'Stockist of the Year - Jaycar Electronics in 2011'.
A career highlight for both Wayne and Darren was meeting Dick Smith and his wife Pip, when they both visited the store during one of Dick's business trips to the Ararat region.
Whilst growing up and living in Ararat, Wayne played junior football with Mounties and later senior football with Ararat and St Mary's football clubs, he also played cricket for Hospital and Chalambar cricket clubs, greatly enjoying being a wicket keeper when fielding.
He played both junior and senior tennis at the Ararat Lawn Tennis club, and squash over many years at the Ararat Squash Club YMCA Courts.
Wayne was a devoted Carlton supporter and blessed with a good memory for statistics, he was considered to be something akin to a sporting encyclopedia.
In addition to this Wayne was an enthusiastic junior cricket, soccer, and basketball scorer, when any of his 3 children were playing these sports in Ararat. He was also a supporter of his children's dancing, once famously attending four dance concerts in one weekend.
Living most of his life in the Ararat community, Wayne was an Ararat Primary School school councillor for eight years, as well as being a committee member of the Ararat Regional Business Association for many years, including once being in the role of Vice-President.
He was also a member of the Ararat Chinese Heritage Society, and involved in fundraising for the Gum San Chinese Heritage Museum building project.
During his years of playing tennis and squash he acted in a variety of different committee roles in local competitions.
Wayne was diagnosed with melanoma cancer in October 2018. He fought his battle with a glass-half-full attitude and tried to remain optimistic right till the very end, even as his illness progressed.
During his cancer journey, he was fortunate to receive the care and expertise from the staff of East Grampians Health Service, Peter McCallum, The Alfred as well as Dr Michael Connellan and oncologist Dr Craig Carden.
Wayne greatly enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, watching and playing sport, enjoying a well-crafted beverage, being a member of Ararat Beefsteak and Burgundy Club, and talking to his customers and acquaintances.
He was always happy if he was successful in making another person laugh by making a witty, or at times, off-tangent comment. Wayne was humble in his opinion of himself and generous in the kindness and appreciation that he showed to others. He will be greatly missed.
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